Placement Testing

• Successful completion of HS Precalculus makes a student eligible for MAT1710 or lower.
• SAT 530 math score or higher; or ACT 23 math score or higher; or Algebra II Regents score or Algebra II course average 80+; or math placement test score 280+ makes a student eligible for MAT1600 or lower.
• Algebra I Regents score 80+ or Algebra I course average of 80+ AND a grade of 70+ in high school Geometry; or math placement test score 255+ makes a student eligible for MAT1590 or lower.
• Successful completion of HS Algebra II (or higher) AND HS GPA of 80+; or math placement test score 255+ makes a student eligible for MAT1540.
• HS GPA 80+ AND Algebra I Regents score 75+ or Algebra I course average of 80+; or math placement test score 246+ makes a student eligible for MAT1500.
• Students who do not meet any of the above criteria or math placement test score of 200 – 245 automatically place into MAT0530 Essential Math OR MAT0550 Algebra Fundamentals.

Based on your high school transcript, initial English course placement will be into one of the following categories:

Students with a documented high school GPA of 80% or above (through at least the junior year) will take ENG 1510: College Composition I.

Students with a documented high school GPA between 75-80% with one of the following success indicators will take ENG 1510: College Composition I:

• NYS Regents scores of 85+ on the global history or U.S. history and government exams
• SAT evidence-based reading and writing score of 500+
• ACT reading score of 21+
• A score of 3+ on any AP exam
• 85%+ in 11th grade English

Students with a documented high school GPA between 75-80% with none of the above success indicators, and students with a documented high school GPA less than 75% will be placed into ENG 0410: Developing Reading Versatility, ENG 0500: Composition 1 Workshop, and ENG 1510: College Composition I for their first semester.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that JCC’s Admissions office receives documentation of any success indicators.

Students without a GPA through junior year will take the Accuplacer placement test in reading, which is an untimed, computer-based, multiple choice test. A score of 250 or higher indicates readiness for most introductory college-level, reading intensive coursework without reading support.

If you wish to challenge placement into support courses, you have the following options:

• Students placed into ENG 0500: Composition I Workshop can complete an essay that will be read by JCC English faculty to determine preparedness for English Composition I without writing support. Contact placement staff to request an ENG 0500 placement challenge.
• Students placed into ENG 0410: Develop Reading Versatility can take the Accuplacer placement test in reading.

You may be exempt from the placement tests if you:

• have a degree from an accredited college or university.
• have transfer or advanced placement credit for ENG 1510.
• have a prior JCC placement test (within the last 3 years) indicating college-level reading.
• have transfer credit for math.
• have completed or are currently enrolled in precalculus or calculus.

Computer-based placement tests are offered in reading and mathematics. Results are valid for three years after the date of the initial test(s).

You may schedule a retest option at least 24 hours after you originally took the test. Regardless of the number of areas to retest, there is a $10 fee to be paid in advance per retest appointment. Retesting for course eligibility in a given semester must be completed by the end of the second day of that semester. You only get one retest option per academic year.

College Connections students: At this time, a reading and/or math retest option can be scheduled in the designated high school at no charge. If you schedule an on-campus retest, you will be charged a retest fee of $10, payable in advance. Retests must be completed prior to registering for a College Connections course.

If you are planning to take classes exclusively online and/or live more than an hour and a half from the college, contact placement testing staff for more information on setting up placement testing at a remote location.